Virgin Australia Business Class - Meals, Menus & Service

[twinaisle]

(and refuse to pay ridiculous airport prices LOL)

Right? Sometimes I do justify a boost juice at $10 to get me through the day though

I find it surprising that this has been introduced, as on pre-COVID flights, hot drinks were always available in J, regardless of short flight times (e.g. HBA-MEL, MEL-CBR, and vv. Cabin staffing levels still seem to be the same as they were back then?

It's all been streamlined exactly like how you'd find no hot meals on a HBA-MEL or CBR-MEL v.v cabin staffing levels still the same but most the time in Y they couldn't finish the service so half the cabin for serviced then the other half would service the cabin crew with verbal abuse

We also prepare the cabin earlier than the competition so once we hear "prepare for landing" everything service wise has to stop. That's also why we don't serve hot drinks on ultra short flights. It would be possible with a 4th crew member in the Y cabin but I know pigs would fly before that would happen.

Sometimes I may serve a hot drink to J class but it would be in a hot cup like Y so it's faster to deliver. It is each to their own though, I get where you're coming from, from both perspective.

 

[Stealthflyer]

I understand the time constraints but It’s disappointing when you’re flying out of HBA on a cold (and/or wet/windy) day especially after the trek out across the tarmac and queuing on the stairs/ramp etc out on the open to enter the plane, not being able to get a hot drink during the flight even when flying J,

No VA HBA lounge of course, so can’t have a cup of tea before leaving (and refuse to pay ridiculous airport prices LOL). I don’t drink alcohol at all, so my choices end up being cold water/lemonade/juice which again, isn’t overly appealing in cold weather!

I find it surprising that this has been introduced, as on pre-COVID flights, hot drinks were always available in J, regardless of short flight times (e.g. HBA-MEL, MEL-CBR, and vv. Cabin staffing levels still seem to be the same as they were back then?

My expectations change when I board in HBA versus airports that have lounges. You could call it getting my money’s worth, given there’s no VA lounge in HBA. If I’m boarding in HBA, I haven’t had a coffee or a beer in the lounge, so that’s what I’d like on board.

 

[TraumaMonster]

Thought I'd chip in with this, been lurking a while in this thread.

Yesterday's CBR-MEL VA254 0715 departure

PBD: Water or Juice

CM: Aaron who proactively offered pantry snacks nearing descent for us to take away

Options: Ham and cheese toastie or what I vaguely remember was a soft shell egg taco with sour cream and salsa (Veg option).

 

[RooFlyer]

Welcome to AFF @TraumaMonster

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Best choice, ever!
ie CBR - MEL, rather than CBR(- SYD -)MEL.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I *thought* at one stage VA was rotating meals every couple of weeks, and between outbound and inbound ports. But the last 5 weeks has been the same options MEL-SYD and vv : Chook à la mutard, chook à la parmigiana, or gnocchi.

I have now resorted to bringing my own bread rolls and butter from the lounge. The bread rolls are actually really nice! Cannot understand why they can’t cater those on board!?

Somehow… maybe because i’m now the last to board… I’m getting my order taken in the galley as I wait for the aisle to clear! Including my drink order.

Does VA have a customer value score?

 

[RooFlyer]

Somehow… maybe because i’m now the last to board… I’m getting my order taken in the galley as I wait for the aisle to clear! Including my drink order.

That's a good thing, right? If you aren't going anywhere for a few secs, may as well get the order done?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

That's a good thing, right? If you aren't going anywhere for a few secs, may as well get the order done?

Oh yeah! I’m not complaining! Pax next to me on the flight two days ago couldn’t work out how my order wasn’t taken, and I was served first!

 

[twinaisle]

Cannot understand why they can’t cater those on board!?

Because $$$$$. VA is about the $$$$$$
It's basically a substitute option these days, I'll give you an example.

People complain about the cheese and crackers saying they're bored of it. If VA were to change it, it would be swapped for something of equal or less $$ as it's a swap. They won't increase the budget for catering of a new item including something.

The little heart chocolate was added to the tray as a "dessert" because its cheap and didn't cost much to add.

 

[RooFlyer]

Because $$$$$. VA is about the $$$$$$

Given the level of service I get compared to 'the marsupial' , I'm OK with that. I'm not an 'air warrior' and fly only every couple of weeks, eg HBA-BNE-HBA, and don't have a problem with the menus. Except for HBA ( ) the air warriors I'm sure have learned to cater in the lounge or self cater if they are tired of what's on offer. Every single J meal I've had since I started flying regularly with VA last December has been well plated and nice to eat.

 

[Ade]

VA268. CBR-MEL

CM - Lisa
FA - Declan

PB : did not try. Was in the lounge until Final Call so queued up in the general boarding queue. Didn’t seem ok to go into the Priority queue after that long time.

PDB : sparkling wine (Grant Burge Prosecco NV) or still water.

Meal orders taken row 1, row 2.

Before taking my order, CM Lisa asked how to pronounce my name. I told her and she got it in the first attempt

Meals :

1. Chicken and farro salad with soy sesame dressing

2. Rissoni and roast pumpkin with tzatziki

Went with the vego option.



Merlot and cab Sav - went with cab Sav and sparkling water. Can Sav was Katnook Estate Founders Reserve. Was very good.

Very attentive crew. CM kept topping up the glass without asking. Free flowing wine in the cabin. Was a very pleasant flight.

Cheese/crackers and chocolate stowed away for later.

 

[Sprucegoose]

Can Sav was Katnook Estate Founders Reserve.

This is a good standard for short flight, VA

Went with the vego option.

Even that looks 100% on my last vego option (enforced) VA are doing salads very well without a celebrity chef. Neil?

Chicken and farro salad with soy sesame dressing

It sounds very tasty. May need to swing by the bush capital so I can tick it off my list.

she got it in the first attempt

A good sign from someone wanting to get things right.

 

[RooFlyer]

Even that looks 100% on my last vego option (enforced) VA are doing salads very well without a celebrity chef. Neil?

The NP version:

 

[Ade]

VA237 MEL-ADL 2F, Last to board J

CM: Annette
FA : Leah
FA : Felicia’s bday yay!

Very turbulent flight. For the first 30 mins or so we were inside a cloud. All I could see was white clouds around us. The seat belt sign did not switch off for over 30 mins into the flight.

Boarding : looked like there was only one person doing boarding and from the uniform I’m assuming the CM. She seemed very very busy.

PDB : PDB orders were taken 2 seats at a time. 1A/C order was taken and served 5 mins after. 5 mins after that 1D/F order were taken. The CM had to pause boarding of pax so that she can make the PBD orders and serve them .. looks like this trip was severely short staffed and there were frequent call (pings) to the phone at the galley. The CM was pretty much shuttling between taking PDB orders, boarding customers, making drinks, boarding more pax and then serving them …

Surprisingly this service has cold juice as PDB in addition to the usual still water and sparkling white wine. There was orange, apple juice, water and champagne ( I’m thinking Prosecco) this service as PDB. The CM did not introduce herself and seemed very hurried/rush in her service. She was clearly stressed and every 2 mins she kept getting phone calls to the galley phones … something seemed very out of place, in comparison to my other recent VA J flights.

Meals :

CM showed the iPad to everyone and asked us to choose the meal. Answered any questions one might have.
1. Grilled chicken in mustard sauce
2. Gnocchi in mushroom sauce

Vego option ran out by the time the CM came to 2F, so I went with snacks - chips, cheese/crackers, sparkling water

During the flight, the CM was attentive. Kept refilling my water.

As we disembarked via the stairs (power outage at ADL due to storm), the CM tapped me and suggested that I can let the CM know next time when I’m onboard about the vego meal and they can keep one aside. @twinaisle also suggested it last week, but I was otherwise preoccupied mind-wise and didn’t let the FA know.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I don’t believe the flight can be ‘short staffed’? Min four crew required, and can’t take off without them. Unless something was happening down the back that required the attention of more staff that usual?

 

[Ade]

good standard for short flight,

It was … to my palette, it was full bodied and wholesome. Enjoyed it.

VA are doing salads very well without a celebrity chef.

VA salads are great. I’ll happily have this each time I fly. A bread role (sourdough, pls) and some sated butter will be all that I’d recommend to be added to the tray. But as @twinaisle pointed out today, it comes down to cost. So next flight, Bakers Delight it is for bread rolls

The NP version:

The rockets actually elevated the dish. The tzatziki was too creamy, rockets helped to cut thru that creaminess …

A good sign from someone wanting to get things right.

Agree with you. CM Lisa offered really good service

Post automatically merged: Mar 5, 2023

I don’t believe the flight can be ‘short staffed’? Min four crew required, and can’t take off without them. Unless something was happening down the back that required the attention of more staff that usual?

I think that’s what happened .. “short staffed” was my colloquial way of saying things … lol

Re : more attention at the back - this would perhaps explain the calls to the galley. The galley phone kept pinging every 2 mins.

 

[Sprucegoose]

CM tapped me and suggested that I can let the CM know next time when I’m onboard about the vego meal and they can keep one aside. @twinaisle also suggested it last week

Thats a very good suggestion. I am not sure if VFF records your meal preferences. Worth a shot.

 

[JessicaTam]

Thats a very good suggestion. I am not sure if VFF records your meal preferences. Worth a shot.

Unfortunately they don't record them.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

It was … to my palette, it was full bodied and wholesome. Enjoyed it.


VA salads are great. I’ll happily have this each time I fly. A bread role (sourdough, pls) and some sated butter will be all that I’d recommend to be added to the tray. But as @twinaisle pointed out today, it comes down to cost. So next flight, Bakers Delight it is for bread rolls


The rockets actually elevated the dish. The tzatziki was too creamy, rockets helped to cut thru that creaminess …


Agree with you. CM Lisa offered really good service

Post automatically merged: Mar 5, 2023

I think that’s what happened .. “short staffed” was my colloquial way of saying things … lol

Re : more attention at the back - this would perhaps explain the calls to the galley. The galley phone kept pinging every 2 mins.

Snaffle the bread roll from da lounge! And butter!

 

[Sprucegoose]

Unfortunately they don't record them.

I am sure there are erstwhile Virgin representatives on or near this site that will record this as an easy win for loyalty and cost management.

Post automatically merged: Mar 5, 2023

Snaffle the bread roll from da lounge! And butter!

Wer'e going the way of the free and brave ....